Brevard native dies in police custody in VA

Derrick Hemphill's aunt, Wanda Moore, talks about her nephew, who recently died while in police custody in Virginia.

Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

By John HarbinTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:54 p.m.

BREVARD — Family members of Derrick Hemphill Jr. are seeking answers after the 20-year-old Brevard native and former Navy sailor died Tuesday in police custody in Virginia.

The Norfolk Police Department is investigating Hemphill's death. A spokesman for the department said Hemphill was incoherent and vomiting when officers found him Tuesday near Norfolk Naval Station, the Associated Press reported.

Police said Hemphill became violent after he was arrested, according to the Associated Press. The officers used pepper spray, handcuffs and leg restraints to retrain him. Police Department spokesman Chris Amos that officers put Hemphill in the back of a police car and he lost consciousness while officers were taking him to a local hospital.

Paramedics were following the police car in an ambulance, the AP reported. Hemphill died at the hospital.

Hemphill's aunts, Wanda Moore and Camice Hamlett, gathered Friday at Hemphill's grandmother's home in Brevard to share memories of their nephew.

"We found out Wednesday," Hamlett said. "We are still seeking answers. The police have been talking to his mother, Julia Robinson, and asking her questions like when was the last time she spoke to him."

"He called my mother Tuesday, before he was pronounced dead, and he sounded fine," Moore added.

The women said they are devastated by the loss and by the circumstances surrounding Hemphill's death.

"It has hit me hard," Hamlett said. "He and my daughter were very close. She passed away about two years ago and he and I recently were talking about placing flowers on her grave together next time he was home. Then to hear he died... it's just hard."

Hemphill's aunts said he wasn't a troublesome kid.

"He was outgoing," Hamlett said. "He would give someone the shirt off his back. If someone else was hungry, he would give up his food so they could eat."

Hemphill decided to go into the Navy to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, Hamlett said. It was hard when he left about three years ago, but he called the family on a regular basis to check in and tell them he loved them.

"He hated to leave every time he came home," Hamlett said.

The 2008 Brevard High School graduate always had a smile on his face, she added.

"I remember his hugs," Moore said. "He would hug you so tight it felt like he was crushing you, and he always had to kiss you, too."

Hemphill was a good student who played football while in high school, they said.

"He always felt like he was too short to play basketball, but he would play with the neighborhood kids," Hamlett said.

The women want the community to remember their nephew as a young man who went to serve his country and be successful in his life.

Navy Personnel Command spokeswoman Katie Suich told the The Virginian-Pilot that Hemphill was honorably discharged from the service in March, but his aunts said they didn't know he was no longer in the service.

"He liked to fish," Hamlett said. "He and his father would fish a lot. I remember he couldn't wait to get his driver's license. When he was little, we always took trips and he hated riding in the car on long trips. He would ask, ‘Are we there yet?'"

"Being raised by a single mother, he turned into a good man," Moore added. "I have two boys myself and they looked up to him and thought of him as a brother."

The aunts said Hemphill's body should be back in Brevard today, but the family has not made arrangements for a funeral or burial at this time.

<p>BREVARD — Family members of Derrick Hemphill Jr. are seeking answers after the 20-year-old Brevard native and former Navy sailor died Tuesday in police custody in Virginia. </p><p>The Norfolk Police Department is investigating Hemphill's death. A spokesman for the department said Hemphill was incoherent and vomiting when officers found him Tuesday near Norfolk Naval Station, the Associated Press reported. </p><p>Police said Hemphill became violent after he was arrested, according to the Associated Press. The officers used pepper spray, handcuffs and leg restraints to retrain him. Police Department spokesman Chris Amos that officers put Hemphill in the back of a police car and he lost consciousness while officers were taking him to a local hospital. </p><p>Paramedics were following the police car in an ambulance, the AP reported. Hemphill died at the hospital. </p><p>Hemphill's aunts, Wanda Moore and Camice Hamlett, gathered Friday at Hemphill's grandmother's home in Brevard to share memories of their nephew. </p><p>"We found out Wednesday," Hamlett said. "We are still seeking answers. The police have been talking to his mother, Julia Robinson, and asking her questions like when was the last time she spoke to him."</p><p>"He called my mother Tuesday, before he was pronounced dead, and he sounded fine," Moore added. </p><p>The women said they are devastated by the loss and by the circumstances surrounding Hemphill's death. </p><p>"It has hit me hard," Hamlett said. "He and my daughter were very close. She passed away about two years ago and he and I recently were talking about placing flowers on her grave together next time he was home. Then to hear he died... it's just hard."</p><p>Hemphill's aunts said he wasn't a troublesome kid. </p><p>"He was outgoing," Hamlett said. "He would give someone the shirt off his back. If someone else was hungry, he would give up his food so they could eat."</p><p>Hemphill decided to go into the Navy to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, Hamlett said. It was hard when he left about three years ago, but he called the family on a regular basis to check in and tell them he loved them.</p><p>"He hated to leave every time he came home," Hamlett said. </p><p>The 2008 Brevard High School graduate always had a smile on his face, she added. </p><p>"I remember his hugs," Moore said. "He would hug you so tight it felt like he was crushing you, and he always had to kiss you, too."</p><p>Hemphill was a good student who played football while in high school, they said. </p><p>"He always felt like he was too short to play basketball, but he would play with the neighborhood kids," Hamlett said. </p><p>The women want the community to remember their nephew as a young man who went to serve his country and be successful in his life. </p><p>Navy Personnel Command spokeswoman Katie Suich told the The Virginian-Pilot that Hemphill was honorably discharged from the service in March, but his aunts said they didn't know he was no longer in the service. </p><p>"He liked to fish," Hamlett said. "He and his father would fish a lot. I remember he couldn't wait to get his driver's license. When he was little, we always took trips and he hated riding in the car on long trips. He would ask, 'Are we there yet?'"</p><p>"Being raised by a single mother, he turned into a good man," Moore added. "I have two boys myself and they looked up to him and thought of him as a brother."</p><p>The aunts said Hemphill's body should be back in Brevard today, but the family has not made arrangements for a funeral or burial at this time. </p><p>Reach Harbin at 828-694-7881 or john.harbin@blueridgenow.com.</p>